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Rising rates, global trade disputes, and other geopolitical developments continue to change the dynamic for investors. If you haven't done so already, the midpoint of the year can be a good time to reflect on your investment mix.

If you are interested in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), one tool that may be of use is Fidelity's ETF screener that can quickly sort through a lot of data based on choices you make, to help you identify specific investments. You can search for ETFs using a variety of characteristics like the funds' objectives, fundamentals, technicals, performance, volatility, trading characteristics, tax considerations, and analyst ratings.

Below, we feature 3 examples of ETF screens that you might consider running, in light of recent market developments, plus the top results for each.

1. Sector ETFs

Second-quarter 2018 earnings reporting season began in July. According to S&P Capital IQ, consensus estimates are calling for 8 of the 11 US sectors to see double digit year-over-year earnings per share gains (9 of the 11 sectors are expected to have positive growth), led by energy, materials, financials, and technology, while real estate and utilities are expected to report declines (see table below).

If you want to explore sector ETFs for those sectors that consensus estimates forecast to have the largest EPS gains during this earnings season using the Fidelity.com ETF screener, select objectives, equity, sector, energy, materials, financials, information technology. If you want to search for the largest ETFs in these sectors, select basic ETF/ETP facts, net assets, very high. You might also consider adding additional criteria. For example, value, using price-to-cash flow by selecting fundamentals, equity, low price/cash flow.

As of July 10, 2018, the top 10 results of this sample screen, sorted by net assets, were:

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF)

Financial Select Technology SPDR Fund (XLK)

Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT)

Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE)

Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP)

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index (FDN)

Vaneck Vectors Gold Miners Index ETF (GDX)

Vanguard Financials ETF (VFH)

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE)

Vaneck Vectors Junior Gold Miners Index (GDXJ)

It should be noted that sector ETFs are more concentrated than broadly diversified ETFs, and thus have more investment risk and more potential volatility. Also, several of the ETFs generated by this screen may be speculative, in volatile industries, and/or are highly concentrated.

2. Bond ETFs

The major news from the Fed's June 13 meeting was another 0.25% increase in the fed funds rate (this rate is the key interest rate set by the US central bank, which influences most other domestic interest rates), marking the seventh such rate increase since 2015. The rate hike was widely expected; indeed, prior to the announcement, fed funds futures were forecasting a 100% probability of a 0.25% increase. This benchmark rate now stands between 1.75% and 2.00%.

The Fed's dot plot, which reveals expectations of FOMC voting members, indicates 2 more rate hikes are coming this year. Tom DeMarco, CFA®, a market strategist in Fidelity Capital Markets' fixed income division, thinks 2 more rate hikes are likely this year as well. He also thinks that we're closer to the end of the rate-hike cycle than we are to the beginning. "Real interest rates, which are adjusted for the rate of inflation, remain low by long-term historical standards," DeMarco says.

In terms of the segments of the bond market that DeMarco likes right now, he points to municipal bonds as one option. "Generally speaking, muni bond fundamentals look fine, with solid economic growth and healthy tax collections (see chart below). So I think munis will continue to hold their own, especially through the technically strong summer months."

Municipalities exhibit positive revenue growth

Tax revenue growth

Source: US Census Bureau, The Quarterly Summary of State and Local Tax Revenue, as of 3/20/18. The chart represents the 4-quarter average of the quarterly year-over-year percentage change in the respective revenue source. Data is not adjusted for legislative changes. Personal income tax and sales tax represent just the state portion while property tax reflects state and local components.

If you'd like to look for municipal bond ETF ideas using the screener, select fixed income, US municipal. The largest 10 US municipal bond ETFs, sorted by net assets, as of July 10, 2018, were:

iShares S&P Short Term National AMT-Free Bond ETF (SUB)—available for purchase commission-free on Fidelity.com

iShares California Muni Bond ETF (CMF)

Invesco Taxable Municipal Bond ETF (BAB)

SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF (HYMB)

First Trust Managed Municipal ETF (FMB)

Of course, more research is needed to determine if any of these ETFs are appropriate for your situation. This screen generated a wide range of types of ETFs, including state munis, high-yield munis, and AMT-free munis. Just because they are municipal securities does not mean they have low investment risk.

3. International ETFs

As central banks around the world continue to adjust policy and the trade dispute saga plays out, among other economic developments, you may want to monitor your portfolio to ensure that your strategic asset allocation is not out of balance with your objectives. Pay special attention to your long-term asset allocation targets. Some investors may want to ensure portfolio diversification that includes international equities.

If you’d like to explore international ETFs to complement your investment portfolio via the ETF screener, select geography objective, international (ex-US). You may also choose to look for those with high net assets and add in some fundamental filters by selecting fundamentals, equity, high cash flow growth %.

As of July 10, 2018, the top 10 results of this sample screen, sorted by net assets, were:

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA)

Vanguard FTSE All-World Ex-US ETF (VEU)

iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS)—available for purchase commission-free on Fidelity.com

As with any other screen, more research is needed to determine if any of these ETFs are right for your specific investing strategy. It should be noted that some international ETFs have more investment risk and more potential volatility than broadly diversified ETFs.

Due diligence

If you think one or more of the ETFs identified by a screen is one you want to consider to help manage the risk in your portfolio or achieve your objectives, your next step should be to research it further.

The results of the international screen, in particular, are worth examining in more detail. For instance, international investing involves more risk, and the results of this screen feature lower liquidity relative to other, more widely held ETFs. Further research will help you better understand what you are buying.

Also, trading costs are among the many factors that you should analyze when considering an ETF. Factoring in the impact of commissions, for example, can be particularly relevant for active investors who trade somewhat frequently—especially if you are making relatively small-sized trades—as well as long-term investors executing a dollar cost averaging strategy.

In addition to commissions, a few other key factors to consider for any ETF (which you can find on Fidelity.com, on an ETF’s snapshot page) are:

Bid-ask spread: Look for small bid-ask spreads to reduce costs of investing.

Tracking error: Look for a low tracking error to find ETFs that indicate a better job of replicating their benchmark indexes.

If you find ETFs with similar objectives, you could compare their expense ratios, bid-ask spreads, and/or tracking error to find the better deal. You can filter for all of these factors using the ETF screener.

Knowing what the individual components of an ETF are can also give you a better sense of what you are buying or selling. You can find an ETF’s components on its ETF snapshot page on Fidelity.com, under Portfolio Composition. On this page, you can find the ETF’s style (value, growth, or blend) and size (large, mid, or small), as well as analyst ratings and key statistics.

Finally, you should fully understand the risks involved in any investment strategy. Any investing opportunity should be considered within the context of a well-diversified investment strategy that conforms to your specific time horizon, objectives, and risk parameters.

Free commission offer applies to online purchases of Fidelity ETFs and select iShares ETFs in a Fidelity brokerage account. Fidelity accounts may require minimum balances. The sale of ETFs is subject to an activity assessment fee (from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). iShares ETFs and Fidelity ETFs are subject to a short-term trading fee by Fidelity if held less than 30 days.

ETFs are subject to market fluctuation and the risks of their underlying investments. ETFs are subject to management fees and other expenses. Unlike mutual funds, ETF shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher or lower than their NAV, and are not individually redeemed from the fund.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Investing involves risk, including risk of loss.

As with all your investments through Fidelity, you must make your own determination whether an investment in any particular security or securities is consistent with your investment objectives, risk tolerance, financial situation, and evaluation of the security. Fidelity is not recommending or endorsing this investment by making it available to its customers.

Exchange-traded products (ETPs) are subject to market volatility and the risks of their underlying securities, which may include the risks associated with investing in smaller companies, foreign securities, commodities, and fixed income investments. Foreign securities are subject to interest rate, currency exchange rate, economic, and political risks, all of which are magnified in emerging markets. ETPs that target a small universe of securities, such as a specific region or market sector, are generally subject to greater market volatility, as well as to the specific risks associated with that sector, region, or other focus. ETPs that use derivatives, leverage, or complex investment strategies are subject to additional risks. The return of an index ETP is usually different from that of the index it tracks because of fees, expenses, and tracking error. An ETP may trade at a premium or discount to its net asset value (NAV) (or indicative value in the case of exchange-traded notes). The degree of liquidity can vary significantly from one ETP to another and losses may be magnified if no liquid market exists for the ETP's shares when attempting to sell them. Each ETP has a unique risk profile, detailed in its prospectus, offering circular, or similar material, which should be considered carefully when making investment decisions.

The Fidelity ETF Screener is a research tool provided to help self-directed investors evaluate these types of securities. The criteria and inputs entered are at the sole discretion of the user, and all screens or strategies with preselected criteria (including expert ones) are solely for the convenience of the user. Expert Screeners are provided by independent companies not affiliated with Fidelity. Information supplied or obtained from these Screeners is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or guidance, an offer of or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, or a recommendation or endorsement by Fidelity of any security or investment strategy. Fidelity does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy or approach to screening or evaluating stocks, preferred securities, exchange-traded products, or closed-end funds. Fidelity makes no guarantees that information supplied is accurate, complete, or timely, and does not provide any warranties regarding results obtained from its use. Determine which securities are right for you based on your investment objectives, risk tolerance, financial situation, and other individual factors, and reevaluate them on a periodic basis.

Because of their narrow focus, sector investments tend to be more volatile than investments that diversify across many sectors and companies.

Foreign investments involve greater risks than U.S. investments, including political and economic risks and the risk of currency fluctuations, all of which may be magnified in emerging markets.

In general, fixed income ETPs carry risks similar to those of bonds, including interest rate risk (as interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa), issuer or counterparty default risk, issuer credit risk, inflation risk, and call risk. Unlike individual bonds, many fixed income ETPs do not have a maturity date, so holding a fixed income security until maturity to try to avoid losses associated with bond price volatility is not possible with these types of ETPs. Certain fixed income ETPs may invest in lower-quality debt securities, which involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer.

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Before investing in any mutual fund or exchange-traded fund, you should consider its investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus, an offering circular, or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

Important legal information about the e-mail you will be sending. By using this service, you agree to input your real e-mail address and only send it to people you know. It is a violation of law in some jurisdictions to falsely identify yourself in an e-mail. All information you provide will be used by Fidelity solely for the purpose of sending the e-mail on your behalf.The subject line of the e-mail you send will be "Fidelity.com: "